Clutch mechanism.



O. N. BALDWIN.

CLUTCH MECHANISM.

APPLwATIoN MLED Muze, 1912.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTIS N. BALDWIN, OF BAXTER'SPRINGS, KANSAS.

CLUTCH MECHAN IS M.

:specification of Letters P atent.

Patented Mair. 9, 1915.

Application tiled M ay 23, 1912. Serial No. 699,258.

T0 alt lwhom it may concern Be it known that I O'ris N. BALDWIN, a citizen of `the United States, residing at Baxter Springs, in the county of Cherokee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Im arovements in Clutch the following is a this character which is composed of few parts, is simplel in construction, and durable and efiieient in service. v With these and other objects in view, my

-iiiveiitiou consists in the novel arrangement and combination ot parts as hereinafter more fiilIfyJdeSCribed and claimed. Referring.: to the drawings forming apart 'of this specification and in which like n'uinerals are usedto designate corresponding parts throughout the several views; Figure 1 is an elevation of ana-Xle having thereon a pair of wheels provided with my improved clutch, parts being broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate the structure, Fig. 2 is a view of my clutch dpvice in intermediate or inoperative position, the cover being removed, and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the clutch in its gripping or operative position.

Referring moreparticularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates an axle, pron vided with wheels 2, loosely mounted thereon. My clutch mechanism is adapted to be placed upon each wheel and is indicated as a whole, by the numeral 3. Rigidly secured to the wheel in any suitable manner is a. circular `plate 4 provided with an annular llange 5, the plate 4 having an opening;r there through for the axle or shaft 1. Within the annular recess formed by the flange 5, and spaced from the vwalls thereof, is disposed a disk provided with a circular cut'out portion or recess i' eccentrically of its axis. The weight of this disk 6 is distributed equallyv around the recess 7, as by reainingl or cutting out excess of metal in its broader portions, so that when it rides around on the cain Spit will notskid or turn ahead of i the power and cause' it to lock in the wrongv ln thc cam 8 they also have the weight of the metal composing it equaflized` direction.

or distributed over its area in a similar'manner. Loosely mounted within this r'ecess 7 is a circular disk or cam. 8 provided with an .opening i) eccentrically thereof for the 'reception of the .shaft l, which is keyed therein.

10 indicates an apertured plate secured to the flange by means of bolts or screws 1l. to exclude dust from the device, and to prevent the displacement of the-working parts.

'llie operation of the device is as follows: The elements of the clutch being 1n the neutral orvinoperative position shown in Fig.l A2,i'iiovemei'it of the shaft l in either direction raus-es the cam 3 to' frictionally engage the disk (i. There not beingA .sufhcient space for the complete rotation of the cam, the

disk (i is forced into fridional engagement with the (lange 5 on the plate L thus locking the driving!Y shaft and the driven member securely together. The outside of the fiange 5 is adapted to he used in applying a brake. It will be observed, however, that there is nothingY to prevent the (hinged-plate from traveling faster than the shaft. In the case of a motor vehinle rounding a curve, this structure and action allow the outside wheel to coast, while the inner wheel is driven.

It will be understood that changes in the proportions and construction of\ my device may bc resorted towi'thout departing from the spirit of my invention, or limiting the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having. thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

.\ device for transmitting rotary motion comprising a dri ving element, a cam member carried -by said driving element', ai driven In testimony vhereof I hereto aix my sig-` Aelement having an internal friction surface, nature in the presence of two witnesses. and an eccentric band having continuous innel" and outer 'friction A surfacesloosselyA OTIS N' BALDWIN' mounted between said driving and driven Witnesses: elements for engagement -therewithwhen in GRAND E. JOHNSON,

. a predetermined position. LLOYD BALDWIN. 

